Four members of the Leopards Basketball Club have helped Great Britain women’s team win promotion to the European Championship A Division.

The Big Cats’ director of youth basketball Mark Clark coached the team as they won six straight games in 2007 to reach the top division of the European game. Their promotion was effectively sealed in the first leg of the play-off when they hammered Holland 68-32 at Manchester’s Amaechi Centre.

Clark described himself as “very proud” following his side’s promotion. “We won through with defence, but at the end of the day it is just the end of the beginning. We now have the opportunity to play in the A Division, and in a few weeks the work starts again. We need to keep on moving forward.

“It was an amazing effort by 14 girls. As a group they staged together, and everything we’ve achieved had been down to them working as a group. We’ve overcome injuries and setbacks, and the fact that at times no one even seemed to remember we were even playing.”

Clark was assisted by Leopards’ assistant coach Lloyd Gardner who provided video analysis work during the pre-tournament games before scouting their future opponents once the competition got under way.

British forward Kristy Lavin paid tribute to how the programme had been organized, and singled out Gardner for praise: "It’s been run really well, we’ve had excellent coaching, and things like being able to send Lloyd to watch all of the side we were due to play has really helped.”

Leopards former England international forward Duncan Ogilvie was also involved with the side as a personal trainer, while general manger Dave Ryan acted as the team’s press officer.

“It’s a real achievement for the club to have so many people involved with the programme” said Ryan.

“No one expected the women to gain promotion this year, but having seen them play, there really deserved their success. It has interfered with our pre-season preparations, but getting promotion was key to GB being invited into the 2012 Olympics, so it was definitely worthwhile.”

The Big Cats also have another link with the Great Britain programme. Deng Deng, cousin of Chicago Bulls and GB star Luol Deng, has signed for them.

Leopards’ own Deng has come through the junior programme at Hackney White Heat, and made an impressive debut in the per-season friendly against Milton Keynes Lions.